Dominion Proposing Pipeline Running from Harrison County to North Carolina

A proposed pipeline project that would transport natural gas to the Atlantic seaboard would bring additional benefits to the Harrison County area, a representative of Dominion told the Harrison County Commission on Thursday.

Robert Orndorff (standing, left), the Managing Director of State and Local Government Affairs for the energy company, said Dominion is vying to build a 550-mile pipeline that would originate in the Kincheloe area of Harrison County and run through Virginia and into North Carolina. A lateral extension of the pipeline would split off and run to the Hampton Roads area of Virginia.

The project aims to increase the availability of natural gas supplies in West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina. Other companies are studying similar projects that would transport gas from the Marcellus Shale region to the southeast corridor.

“The customers in Virginia and North Carolina will choose who they want to build the pipeline, and we hope it's us,” Orndorff said.

The company proposes to construct a 42-inch line through West Virginia and 36-inch lines in the other two states. Three compressor stations would be built – one in Harrison County, another in central Virginia and a third one near the Virginia/North Carolina border.

A final route for the interstate pipeline has not been determined, though Orndorff said the 1.1 miles of pipeline through Harrison County is fairly settled. The remaining route would be determined after company officials conduct surveys and assessments of landowner input, environmental, historic and cultural impacts.

Orndorff said Dominion has already notified landowners along a 400-foot wide study corridor, adding that preliminary survey work and route planning has already begun. Construction on the project would start in 2017, should Dominion be awarded the work and pending approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

“We are experiencing some issues in the mountain counties,” Orndorff said, noting that line currently is proposed to go through Lewis, Upshur, Barbour, Randolph and Pocahontas counties in West Virginia. “There are some interest groups that don't want us there.”

Orndorff said once the company would get into the project, a series of public forums would be held. He said events are already being planned for Buckhannon and for Durbin, though a date has not been set.

“We will have open houses in every county,” he said.

Orndorff explained that the benefits of the project include increased property tax revenues, employment, economic activity for local businesses during the construction and operation phases, and increased production and severance taxes.

“This is only the beginning,” he said. “If we get the project, the net benefit goes way beyond Harrison County.”

Share Article

Comments

Posted by Lauren Ragland on Aug 26, 2014 at 12:56 PM

"It's not just a pipeline." It is a 42" larger than Keystone (36") it is a TRANSMISSION pipe pushing full force through the mountains and valleys. Ask about the dozen Above Ground Facilities mainly called Valve Meter Stations which DAILY emit KNOWN toxins at a rate of 9% of product [EPA] These unmanned stations would be placed every 2-4 miles dep. on terrain. Check out pipeline-contents.blogspot.com and LEARN and hopefully SHARE!